Tech, talent needed to boost food security

China is pushing to better align agricultural science and technology with industry needs to enhance productivity and strengthen national food security, political advisers said during the annual two sessions meetings.

Premier Li Qiang's Government Work Report, delivered on March 5 at the opening of the third session of the 14th National People's Congress, emphasized efforts to revitalize the seed industry and expand the large-scale application of agricultural science and technology.

Yan Jianbing, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, who is also the president of Huazhong Agricultural University in Wuhan, Hubei province, said that while China has made significant advances in agricultural technology, with a contribution rate surpassing 63 percent, more needs to be done to translate research into real-world productivity.